332 



AVES ORDER CORACIIFORMES. 



The Picarian 

 Birds. Order 



Coraciijormcs. 



February, and the young birds are found in March. At present (1884) the 

 bird is known only to exist in the Middle Island of New Zealand, on the 

 West Coast, between Chalky Harbour and Jackson's Bay, and in the Northern 

 Island, about the sources of the Waganui, and in part of the Taupo countries. 

 It was, within the recollection of the old people, abundant in every part of 

 New Zealand ; and they say it has been exterminated by the cats introduced 

 by the Europeans, which are now found wild and in great numbers in every 

 part of the country. They say also that the large rat introduced from 

 Europe has done its part in the work of destruction. The natives assert 

 that, when the breeding season is over, the Kakapo lives in societies of five 

 or six in the same hole, that it is a provident bird, and lays up in the fine 

 season a store of fern roots for the bad weather." 



This large order contains a number of sub-orders, which will be treated of 

 below in detail. They are very different in outward form from each other 

 as well as in habits and in structure, but they have one 

 striking character in common, which separates them from 

 the Perching birds or Passeriformes, and that is the 

 arrangement of the deep plantar tendons of the foot. In 

 the Picarian birds the hallux or hind toe is connected 

 with the flexor perforans digitorum and not with the flexor longu& hallucis. 

 In all other birds an exactly opposite arrangement takes place. 



These curious birds cannot be reckoned to be Nightjars,. although they have 

 the outward appearance of being members of the latter group. Their habits 

 are crepuscular like those of the Caprimidgidce, but there 

 are many characters which show that they are not true 

 Nightjars, but constitute a sub-order apart. They lay 

 white eggs, which no Nightjar ever does, the sternum 

 has two notches on its hinder margin, and there are other 

 osteological features which distinguish the Oil-Bird. 



The colour of this singular species is reddish brown inclining to chestnut, 

 with small triangular white spots on the head and neck, and cross-barrings of 

 blackish on most of the upper parts, and white spots on the median wing- 

 coverts ; the under surface is pale chestnut, suffused with greyish. 



The Oil-Bird (Steatornis gariepensis), or Guacharo, as it is usually called, 

 is an inhabitant of South America, from Guiana to Venezuela and Co ombia, 



and thence south to Ecuador and 

 Peru. The best account of the habits of 

 this curious bird is that given by Mr. 

 Jean Stolzmann, the celebrated explorer 

 of Northern Peru. He states that 

 the Guacharo passes "the whole day in 

 the caves, hiding itself in the inaccessible 

 ledges, and if startled by a cry or by a 

 shot they make for the roof of the 

 cave, uttering piercing cries. A pro- 

 miscuous discharge among the flying 

 birds is usually attended with no result, 

 as it is impossible to take aim in the 

 darkness, and out of sixty shots which he 

 fired in the Ninabamba grotto, the result was only eleven birds. After they 

 become tired they return to their holes, one by one, and it is afterwards im- 

 possible to make them budge by any noise whatever. Scarcely has twilight 



The Oil-Birds. 

 Sub-order 



Steatornithes. 



Fig. 68. THR OIU-BIHD 

 (Steatornis cariepensis). 



